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Updated: Jun 23, 2025
High-throughput Siderophore Screening from Environmental Samples: Plant Tissues, Bulk Soils, and Rhizosphere Soils
Published on: February 9, 2019
Siderophore Biosynthesis and Transport Systems in Model and Pathogenic Fungi
Sohyeong Choi1, James W Kronstad2, Won Hee Jung1
1Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Fungi employ diverse mechanisms for iron uptake to ensure proliferation and survival in iron-limited environments. Siderophores are secondary metabolite small molecules with a high affinity specifically for ferric iron; these molecules play an essential role in iron acquisition in fungi and significantly influence fungal physiology and virulence. Fungal siderophores, which are primarily hydroxamate types, are synthesized via non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) or NRPS-independent pathways. Following synthesis, siderophores are excreted, chelate iron, and are transported into the cell by specific cell membrane transporters. In several human pathogenic fungi, siderophores are pivotal for virulence, as inhibition of their synthesis or transport significantly reduces disease in murine models of infection. This review briefly highlights siderophore biosynthesis and transport mechanisms in fungal pathogens as well the model fungi Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Understanding siderophore biosynthesis and transport in pathogenic fungi provides valuable insights into fungal biology and illuminates potential therapeutic targets for combating fungal infections.
Insights
Fungi use siderophores to acquire iron, essential for their growth and survival. Understanding these iron-chelating molecules and their transport is key to developing new antifungal therapies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Mycology
Background:
- Fungi require iron for proliferation and survival, especially in iron-limited environments.
- Siderophores, high-affinity ferric iron-chelating molecules, are crucial for fungal iron acquisition.
- Fungal siderophores, mainly hydroxamates, are synthesized via non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) or independent pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review siderophore biosynthesis and transport mechanisms in fungal pathogens.
- To highlight the role of siderophores in fungal physiology and virulence.
- To explore potential therapeutic targets for fungal infections based on siderophore pathways.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on fungal siderophore synthesis and transport.
- Analysis of siderophore roles in model fungi (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe) and human pathogens.
- Examination of the impact of inhibiting siderophore synthesis or transport on fungal virulence.
Main Results:
- Fungal siderophores are synthesized via NRPS or NRPS-independent pathways.
- Siderophores are excreted, chelate iron, and are transported into fungal cells.
- Inhibition of siderophore synthesis or transport reduces virulence in murine models of fungal infection.
Conclusions:
- Siderophores are essential for fungal iron uptake, physiology, and virulence.
- Understanding siderophore pathways in pathogenic fungi offers insights into fungal biology.
- Siderophore biosynthesis and transport represent potential therapeutic targets for antifungal drug development.
